Tube compression fitting and flared fitting used with connection body and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A high pressure tube compression fitting/flared fitting for use in combination with a thick-walled tube and a connection body wherein a sleeve is in engagement with a thick-walled tube. The sleeve is generally cylindrically shaped with the exterior thereof coated and then etched. The sleeve includes a sharp annular biting portion engaging the thick walled tube. The sleeve further includes an inner annular symmetric concavity which engages the thick-walled tube upon deformation thereof. The thick-walled tube includes a flared end portion. A gland about the thick-walled tube engages the sleeve forcing it into engagement with the frusto-conical portion of the connection body coupling the tube, tube fitting and connection body together. The flared end of the thick-walled tube interengages and seals the frusto-conical portion of the connection body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tube coupling for connecting a tube to aconnection body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view 100 of a tube coupling disclosed inprior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,202 to M. F. Bauer. FIG. 2 is an enlargedand fragmentary cross-sectional view 200 of the forward end portion ofthe sleeve 13 shown in the prior art device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.3 is a modified form 300 of the forward end portion of the sleeve 13illustrated in the prior art device illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is afragmentary side view 400 of the wedge insert 20 illustrating theknurled outer surface 23 portion. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view 500taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing principally the knurledsection 23.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,303 to M. F. Bauer, entitled Double SealedCompression Fitting, recites, at col. 3, lns. 54 et seq. with referenceto FIG. 1 thereof, “that the invention comprises generally a coupling orconnection body 11, a coupling nut 12, and a contractible sleeve 13adapted to contractibly engage a tube 10. The coupling body 11 isprovided at its right-hand end with male threads 14, which are adaptedto be threadably engaged by female threads 15 provided in the nut 12 forpressing the sleeve into engagement with the tube. The male threads 14and the female threads 15 constitute connection means for drawing theconnecting body 11 and the coupling nut 12 toward each other. Asillustrated, the connection body 11 is provided with a laterallyextending outer wall or an entrance end portion 16 with substantially aconical opening 45 extending into said body from said outer wall 16. Theconical opening 45 receives the sleeve 13 and the end of the tube 10 andhas an internal annular cam surface 17 with a first end portion 46disposed adjacent the outer wall 16 and a second end portion 47 withinthe body member disposed longitudinally remote from the outer wall 16.The first end portion 46 has a maximum diameter and the second endportion 47 has a minimum diameter. The internal annular cam surface 17slopes radially inwardly in substantially a straight line from the firstend portion 46 to the second end portion 47 and defines an acute anglewith respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Extendinglongitudinally beyond the inwardly converging cam surface 17 is a socketor counter bore 18 which is provided with a terminating end surface 19.The inwardly converging cam surface 17 may be preferably about ninedegrees and preferably may lie in a range of approximately eight totwelve degrees, but may be in a wider range of approximately seven totwenty degrees, measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of thetube.

Mounted in the socket 18 is a wedge insert 20 having an abutting endsurface 21 and an annular wedge wall or a flare end surface 22. Inassembly, the insert 20 is pressed into the socket 18 until the abuttingend surface 21 abuts against the terminating end surface 19 for making asealing engagement therebetween. In order to resist longitudinalmovement of the insert 20 out of the socket 18, there is provided aknurled portion 23 which provides longitudinal spaced ribs therearoundto-make an interlocking engagement with the wall of the counter bore orsocket 18. As the wedge insert 20 is pressed or driven into the counterbore or socket 18, the smooth or unknurled forward portion acts as aguide and elevated ribs of the knurled portion 23 cut or make their ownlongitudinal grooves into the wall of the socket or counter bore 18 sothat the wedge insert becomes a permanent part of the connection body11. The terminating end surface 19 of the socket 18 is disposed at areverse slope of approximately five degrees so that when the abuttingend surface 21 of the wedge insert is pressed against the terminatingend surface 19 a good fluid seal is made therebetween at substantiallythe bore of the connection body 11. While I preferably use a knurledsection to hold the insert 20 in the socket 18, it is understood thatany other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

When my coupling is used for joining steel tubing to a connection body,I preferably construct the wedge insert 20 of steel which is capable ofbeing quench hardenable throughout its entire mass and thereaftertempered or drawn back to a hardness value greater than that of thetube. I find that steel known as 4140, heat treated throughout itsentire mass and tempered to a hardness value of approximately 30 to 45Rockwell, is satisfactory for my insert. When my coupling is used withcopper tubing, the insert is preferably constructed of hard brass sothat the insert has a hardness value greater than that of the coppertubing. When my coupling is used with stainless steel tubing the wedgeinsert may be made of hardenable stainless steel. As illustrated, in thedrawing, the flare end surface 22 of the insert 20 terminates at itspointed end in a rounded nose 24. It is to be noted that the outwardlyconverging cam surface 17 and the annular wedge wall or flare endsurface 22 define sides of a substantially triangular space comprising aconverging annular walled chamber. The annular wedge wall 22 defines inconjunction with the opening 45 an annular converging space 48 pointingaway from the outer wall 16 to receive the end of the tube which extendsbeyond the contractible end portion of the sleeve 13. The annular wedgewall 22 has first end region 49 having a minimum diameter to fit insidethe tube and has a second end region 50 with a maximum diameter uponwhich the end of the tube slides as it is being flared. The annularwedge wall 22 slopes radially outwardly in substantially a straight linefrom the first end region 49 to the second end region 50 and has anacute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Theinternal annular cam surface 17 and the and wedge wall 22 are angularlydisposed with respect to each other and define an acute angletherebetween. The second end portion 7 of the internal annular camsurface 17 and the second end region 50 of the annular wedge wall 22converge toward each other, and they have surfaces with a radialdistance therebetween less than the wall thickness of the tube towedgingly receive the end of the tube. The internal annular cam surface17 has an intermediate portion 51 between the first and second endportions 46 and 47. The intermediate end portion 51 is longitudinallycoextensive with and surrounds the first end region 49 of the annularwedge wall 22.

The sleeve 13 has a bore 31 adapted to surround the tube and comprises acontinuous annular body 25 provided with rearwardly extending segmentalfingers 20 which grip the tube when the nut is tightened. When mycoupling is used with steel tubing, this sleeve is preferablyconstructed of steel which is capable of being quench-hardenablethroughout its entire mass and thereafter tempered or drawn back to ahardness value greater than that of the tube. I find that steel known as4140, heat-treated throughout its entire mass and tempered to a hardnessvalue of approximately 30 to 45 Rockwell, is satisfactory for my sleeve.When my coupling is used with copper tubing, the sleeve is preferablyconstructed of hard brass so that the insert has a hardness valuegreater than that of the copper tubing. When my coupling is used withstainless steel tubing the sleeve may be made of hardenable stainlesssteel.

In the manufacturing of the sleeve, the fingers 26 are provided bymaking slots 27 in the rearward section thereof at annularly spacedintervals thereabout. In FIG. 1, four slots are used, but any number maybe used. The continuous annular body 25 has a leading or forwardcontractible end portion 28 and a rearward end portion 29. Asillustrated, the end portion 29 constitutes the forward terminus for theslots 27. The leading or forward contractible end portion 28 has at itsforward end a cam surface 30 which engages the inwardly convergingcamming surface 17 of the connection body 11. The inside surface of theleading or forward contractible end portion 28 of the sleeve ispreferably provided with a major rib 32 which is longitudinally spacedfrom the end of the sleeve. The inside diameter of the rib 32 ispreferably about the same diameter as the bore 31 of the sleeve. Inorder to provide for making the rib, the inside surface of the forwardend portion of the sleeve is recessed at an angle preferably about fivedegrees, thereby making the recess wall 34. The depth of the major rib32 may be in the neighborhood of 0.012 inch. The rib 32 is provided withforward edge 35 which constitutes a biting edge for biting into thetube.

The forward edge 35 constitutes laterally extending circumferentialwalls terminating in circumferential cutting edge to bite and make itsown grooves into the outside surface of the tube. The forward edge 35 ofthe rib 32 faces the annular wedge wall 22. The radial distance betweenthe first end region 49 of the annular wedge wall and the intermediateportion 51 of the internal annular cam surface 17 is less than thelateral wall thickness of the tube plus the lateral thickness of thesleeve between the outer cam surface 30 and the circumferential cuttingedge of the rib 32. The outer cam surface 30 prior to assembly has adiameter less than the maximum diameter of the first end portion 46 ofthe internal annular cam surface 17 and greater than the minimumdiameter of the second end portion 47 of the internal annular camsurface 17 and initially contacts the internal annular cam surface 17between the first end portion 46 and the intermediate portion 51.

The portion of the sleeve in advance of the major rib 32 constitutes anauxiliary body or shell 37. This shell functions to support the outsidewall of the tub in advance of the major rib 32. The intermediate part ofthe entire sleeve, that is, the rearward end of the continuous annularbody 25 and the forward end of the segmental fingers 26 is enlarged toprovide a tapered or cam shoulder 38 against which a cam shoulder 39 ofthe nut engages for pressing the contractible sleeve into the inwardlyconverging cam surface 17 of the connection body 11. The tightening ofthe nut against the cam shoulder 38 of the sleeve contracts thesegmental fingers about the tube for supporting the tube againstvibration. It is to be noted that the cam shoulder 39 on the nutoppositely faces the converging cam surface 17 and the terminating endsurface 19 of the socket, as well as the flare end surface 22 of theinsert.

In assembly, as the sleeve is pressed forward by the tightening of thenut, the outer annular cam surface 30 of the sleeve forceably engagesthe inwardly converging cam surface 17 of the connection body andthereby produces a camming action which cams or deflects the leading orforward contractible end portion 28 of the sleeve against the tube. Thecamming action embeds the rib 32 into the tube. The rib 32 makes its owngroove in the outer surface of the tube so that as the nut is furthertightened, the end of the tube is forced into the triangular space withthe inner surface of the tube riding upwardly upon the annular wedgewall or flare end surface 22 of the insert for self-flaring the end ofthe tube in advance of the major rib 32.

From the above description, it is noted that the coupling during theinitial stages of the assembly operates as a no-flare fitting, wherebythe outside and inside walls of the sleeve make fluid sealing engagementrespectively with the converging cam surface 17 of the connection bodyand the outside surface of the tube. As the nut is further tightenedduring the final stages of the assembly of the coupling, the insidesurface of the tube rides up upon the annular wedge wall or flare endsurface 22 for flaring the tube, whereby another seal is effectedbetween the tube and the insert 20. In other words, during the finalstage of assembly, the flare end of the tube is pressed between thesleeve and the annular wedge wall or flare end surface 22 of the insert20. The force of the end of the tube against the annular wedge wall orflare end surface 22 forces the entire insert into the socket 18,whereby the abutting end surface 21 of the insert makes good fluid sealengagement with the terminating end surface 19 of the connection body.

The circumferential cutting edge of the rib 32 cuts its own grooves intothe outside surface of the tube with the laterally extendingcircumferential wall 35 pressing against the side wall of the groove.The laterally extending circumferential side wall 35 of the rib and theside wall of the groove against which it presses provide a drivingengagement between the tube 10 and the sleeve 13 thereby carrying thetube along with the sleeve forcing the inside surface of the end of thetube with a wedging movement against the annular wedge wall 22 to flarethe end of the tube in advance of the circumferential cutting edge 35 ofthe rib 32. The flaring of the end of the tube permits the sleeve 13 andthe tube 10 carried there along to move farther into the conical opening45, for pressing the end of the tube wedgingly into the converging spacebetween the second end portion 47 of the internal annular cam surface 17and the second end region 50 of the annular wedge wall 22 with theoutside surface of the tube making wedging contact against the secondend portion 47 of the internal annular cam surface 11 and the insidesurface of the tube making a wedging contact with the second end region50 of the annular wedge wall 22. These wedging contacts limit themovement of the tube into the converging space between the second endportion 47 of the internal annular cam surface 17 and the second endregion 50 of the annular wedge. The flaring of the end of the tube alsopermits the sleeve 13 and the tube 10 carried there along to movefarther into the conical opening 45 for pressing the tube and thecontractible end portion 28 of the sleeve wedgingly into the convergingspace between the first end region 49 of the annular wedge wall 22 andthe intermediate portion 51 of the internal annular cam surface 17 withthe outer surface on the sleeve making a wedging engagement against theintermediate portion 51 of the internal annular cam surface 17 and withthe inside surface of the tube making a wedging engagement with thefirst end region 49 of the annular wedge wall 22. These first and secondwedging engagements in combination with the driving engagement betweenthe laterally extending circumferential wall and the side wall of thegroove against which it presses arrest the movement of the sleeve 13into the converging space between the intermediate portion 51 of theinternal annular cam surface 17 and the first end region 49 of theannular wedge wall 22. The circumferential cutting edge of the rib 32upon final assembly of the tube is laterally spaced from the first endregion 49 of the annular wedge wall 22 for a distance which is less thanthe lateral distance of the wall thickness of the tube.

During the final stages of assembly, the shell 37 functions as apreformed chip, filling substantially all the small triangular spacebetween the outside surface of the tube and the inwardly converging camsurface 17, with the result that there is no more space into which loosemetal from the tube in advance of the major rib 32 may flow when anextraordinarily heavy force is applied to the tightening of the nut. Thewall thickness of the shell 37 may be 0.010 inch to 0.020 inch and thelength thereof may be preferably about 1/32 inch or slightly longer. Inactual observation, with a coupling cut in section, the small triangularspace is substantially undiscernible, because the metal under pressuretends to flow somewhat to make the triangular space in actualconstruction smaller than it appears upon the drawing, which does nottake into account the flow of the metal under pressure. Inasmuch as theannular wedge wall or end surface 22 supports the end of the tube, thecoupling may be assembled and disassembled in an unlimited number oftimes because upon each assembly, the joined parts produce a“rock-bottom,” “hit-home” feeling to the nut, since there is nosubstantial space into which the metal which is under sealing pressuremay flow.

FIG. 2 shows the parts in the assembled condition with the viewenlarged. In FIG. 3, Bauer illustrates a modified form of the leading orforward end portion of the sleeve in that the ribs have been replaced bya forward biting edge or shoulder 40 which bites into the tube formaking a sealing engagement therewith. The action of the forward bitingedge 40 after it makes its own groove into the tube is substantially thesame as that for the ribs. The shell 41 is also provided in advance ofthe forward biting edge 40 in order to support the metal of the tube inadvance of the biting edge, as well as to substantially seal the smalltriangular space between the outside surface of the tube and theinwardly converging cam surface 17 of the connection. The assembly ofthe coupling with the modified sleeve in FIG. 3 is the same as that forthe sleeve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. From the foregoing description, it isnoted that the Bauer coupling claims to be a combination of both theflare and the no flare types of couplings, and thus obtain theadvantages of each while overcoming their disadvantages. Bauer claims toavoid the necessity for flaring the tube in advance of assembly of thecoupling as would be necessary with a flare fitting. Further, Bauerclaims that his invention overcomes the disadvantage of the no flarefitting in that it obtains a “rock-bottom,” “hit-home” feeling whentightening the nut during repeated assembly of the fitting.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing, the wall thickness of the tubing isapproximately 0.049 inch. With my assembled coupling cut in section andunder actual observation, the end of the tube would have a smalltriangular space 48 in advance thereof. The FIGS. 6 and 7 show the useof my coupling with tubing having a wall thickness of approximately0.035 inches. Here the triangular space 48 in advance of the end of thetube is somewhat smaller than it is in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The FIGS. 8and 9 show the use of my coupling with tubing having a wall thickness ofapproximately 0.065 inch. In this instance, the triangular space 48 inadvance of the end of the tube is somewhat larger than it is in FIGS. 1,2, and 3.

My tube coupling accommodates tubing having a wide range of wallthicknesses. One aspect of the invention is that regardless of the wallthickness of the tubing, the distance between the forward end of thetube and the forward end of the sleeve bears about the same relation toeach other in the assembled fitting. One would ordinarily conclude thatthis relationship could not be, and it is difficult to explain thereason therefor. Regardless of the explanation, it is to be pointed outthat the rib 32 or the biting edge 40 of the sleeve makes a drivingconnection between the sleeve and the tube. This driving connectionforces the forward end of the tube against the flared wedge wall 22 andthereby self-flares the end of the tube. At the same time, the forwardend of the tube is coined or pressed into the triangular space 48. Asthe forward end of the tube is pressed into the triangular space 48, theoutside surface of the forward end of the tube is coined between 47 and50 and possibly extruding the wedged end of the tube therebetween withthe result the end of the tube becomes tapered and elongated. In actualpractice, the outer surface of the tube at the forward end thereof at 47becomes tapered and burnished as the nut is tightened, providing a firstperfect sealing area between both sides of the tube against the minimumspaced wall portions 47 and 50.

In the final assembly of the tubing, the minimum spaced wall portionsbetween 47 and 50 arrest the forward movement of the tube therebetween,into the triangular space 48. One novelty of the connection is that theforward end of the tube is arrested in its forward movement between theminimum spaced wall portions 47 and 50, while the sleeve and tube as aunit is arrested in its forward movement between the maximum spaced wallportions 51 and 49, providing a second perfect sealing area. It is to benoted that the invention has a first perfect sealing area for the tubealone between 47 and 50 and a second perfect sealing area for the tubeand sleeve as a unit between 51 and 49. These two perfect sealing areasare longitudinally spaced apart and both sealing areas reside betweentapered wedging surfaces, namely, the cam wall 17 and the wedge wall 22.Ordinarily when an attempt is made to match machine tolerances to obtaintwo perfect sealing areas at two longitudinally spaced tapered regions,such as shown in this invention, difficulty arises from the inability tomatch such tolerances. Both areas do not effect their sealsimultaneously. Usually one area “hit-home” or seals before the other.In this invention, the matching of tolerances is accomplishedautomatically and constitutes one of the unexpected results of myinvention. The problem of matching tolerances becomes all the morecomplex when it is realized that my fitting accommodates tubing havingvarying tube wall thicknesses. One explanation for the automaticaccommodation of matching tolerances arises from two facts: (1) that thecoining of the end of the tube at 47 allows the end of tube to wedginglymove forward into triangular space 48, and (2) that probably with tubingof different wall thicknesses, the rib 32 or the biting edge 40 mayvariably skid or move longitudinally with respect to the tube so that afirst perfect seal is made at the end of the tube between 47 and 50simultaneously with the making of a second perfect seal for the sleeveand tube as a unit between 51 and 49.”

The Bauer patent design is double sealing making (1) a first perfectseal at the end of the tube between: (a) the second end region 50 of theinternal annular cam/wedge wall 22 of the insert 20 and the tube 10,and, (b) the region 47 of the internal cam 17 of the connection body andthe tube 10; and, simultaneously (2) making of a second perfect seal forthe sleeve 13 and tube 10 as a unit between: (a) intermediate portion 51of the internal annular cam 17 of the connection body 11 and thesleeve/tube combination, and, (b) the first end region 49 of the annularwedge wall/cam 22 of the insert 20 and the sleeve/tube combination. TheBauer patent discloses a triangular apex 33 meeting at a point and it isthis apex into which the sleeve/tube combination is driven. Alsodisclosed in the Bauer patent is a bore 42 through the insert 20.

The Bauer connection is assembled in a single step with flaring takingplace at assembly. The Bauer patent design is vague in describing whattubing materials that it can be used with. Its tubing materials aredescribed as copper, steel, stainless steel. The instant invention isfor use primarily with cold worked 300 series stainless steel which ismuch harder than the tubing the Bauer design uses. The Bauer patentdesign mentions tubing wall thicknesses of 0.035 to 0.065, the majorityof tubing sizes used with the instant invention have a wall thicknessgreater than 0.065. The Bauer the '303 patent does not mention anysurface hardening of the sleeve. It is apparent when viewing FIGS. 1, 2,3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the '303 patent to Bauer is that sleeve 13 is longand includes a long continuous annular body 25 provided with rearwardlyextending fingers. It is also apparent from Bauer that sleeve 13 and, inparticular, annular body 25 buckles upon loading when nut 12 is torquedas can be seen by the gap between the tube body and the sleeve.Therefore, the “hit home” feeling may not be achieved upon over torquingthe nut 12 thus limiting the load that can be applied to the sleeve 13by the nut 12.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view 600 of prior art U.S. Pat. No.3,970,336 to O'Sickey for a tube coupling joint. FIG. 6 illustratedherein is substantially the same as FIG. 1 of the '336 patent toO'Sickey. Referring to FIG. 6, bore 611 and bore 612 are illustrated inthe joint. Transverse shoulder 613 abuts body 610. Body 610 includes acam surface 615 which engages radially contractible portion 624 ofsleeve 622 as coupling nut 638 is threaded 639 to body 610. Tube 617includes outer portion 618. Tube 617 may be a relatively thick walledtube and is engaged by radially contractible portion 624 of sleeve 622which forms a transverse shoulder 620. Enlarged portion 625 includes atapered shoulder 642 driven by a corresponding surface of coupling nut638.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,336 uses two processes. The first process creates acompression fitting/flared fitting using a hydraulic tool. Thecompression fitting/flare fitting is then removed and tightened by handin its connection for final assembly. The O'Sickey '336 patent uses acylindrically flared tube. The instant invention, among other things,uses a tapered flare. The O'Sickey '336 patent is for use with heavywall tubing but it does not mention what material the tubing is made ofor the pressure it will be used at in service. The O'Sickey patentdesign does not specify any materials, hardening or surface hardening ofany of the components used for flaring, or connection makeup. TheO'Sickey patent design seals in two places. One seal point is where thesleeve contacts the tubing and the other seal point is where the sleevecontacts the body. Sleeve 622 in O'Sickey contacts process fluid.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view 600A of a prior art design. FIG. 6B isan enlargement 600B of a portion of FIG. 6A. Autoclave Engineers FluidComponents Division uses a fitting illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B forcold-worked stainless steel tubing 655 which includes a sleeve 654wherein only a mechanical bite 658 is cut into the tubing. Housing 651,die 650, gland 652, and threads 653 between housing and gland areillustrated in FIG. 6A. The design illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6Bincludes a sleeve 654 which acts like a cutting tool shaving materialfrom the tubing wall. Annular hook-shaped peel 656 is illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B as is the tip portion 657 of the peel. Interengagement659 of sleeve 654 and tubing 655 as well as the sleeve lip of sleeveextension 660 are illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Reference numeral 661illustrates the gap between the sleeve extension 660, tube 655 andannular hook-shaped peel 656. Reference numeral 661 represents the gapbetween the sleeve extension 660, tube 655 and annular hook-shaped peel656. No flare is used in the compression fitting of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tube fitting for use in combination with a thick-walled tube and aconnection body wherein a sleeve is in engagement with a thick-walledtube. The sleeve is generally cylindrically shaped with the exteriorthereof etched. The sleeve includes a sharp annular biting portionengaging the thick walled tube. The sleeve further includes an innerannular symmetric concavity which engages the thick-walled tube upondeformation thereof. The thick-walled tube includes a flared endportion. A gland about the thick-walled tube engages the sleeve forcingit into engagement with the frusto-conical portion of the connectionbody coupling the tube, tube fitting and connection body together. Theflared end of the thick-walled tube interengages and seals thefrusto-conical portion of the connection body. A process for making thedevice includes the step of placing the thick-walled tube intoengagement with the frusto-conical portion of a die to flare the endportion of the thick-walled tube.

The sleeve includes an end portion having an extended lip portion andwherein the thick-walled tube includes a bulbous portion engaging theextended lip portion of the sleeve. The sleeve interengages thethick-walled tube near the end portion of the thick-walled tube. Theextended lip portion forms a cavity in the sleeve. The thick-walled tubeincludes a bulbous portion engaging the extended lip portion of thesleeve. The exterior of the sleeve includes first and second taperedsurfaces.

The sleeve has a longitudinal axis and the extended lip portion includesa recess (cavity). The recess (cavity) includes first and second legsand the first leg is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis andthe second leg is substantially transverse to the first leg. The firstand second legs form an angle less than 90°.

The tube fitting is also usable in combination with a thick-walled tubeand a connection body. A gland about the thick-walled tube is engageablewith the sleeve. The gland includes exterior threads thereon which arematingly threaded into a connection body which includes a frusto-conicalportion. The exterior threads of the gland interengage the interiorthreads of the connection body, coupling the tube, the tube fitting andthe connection body together. The flared end of the thick-walled tubeinterengages and seals against the frusto-conical portion of theconnection body. The connection body further includes an exterior and aleak detection passageway extending to the exterior of the connectionbody.

The process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with athick-walled tube includes the steps of: placing a thick-walled tubeinto engagement with the frusto-conical portion of a die such that theinner diameter of the tube interengages the tube engaging surface of thefrusto-conical portion of the die, the die being supported by a drivingpiston; sliding a sleeve over the tube, the sleeve includes an interiorand an exterior, the exterior of the sleeve having a coating thereoverand then being chemically etched with, for instance, an appropriateacid, the sleeve includes a sharp annular biting portion engaging thethick-walled tube, the sleeve includes an interior annular symmetricconcavity, the concavity of the sleeve interengaging the thick-walledtube; securing the sleeve into forceful engagement with the die; drivingthe die into the thick-walled tube and the sleeve with the drivingpiston; flaring the end portion of the thick-walled tube; and, deformingthe sleeve into engagement with the thick-walled tube. The slidingsleeve has a longitudinal axis and the extended lip portion includes arecess (cavity). The recess includes first and second legs and the firstleg being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and the secondleg being substantially transverse to the first leg. The step of drivingthe die into the thick-walled tube includes forcing and engaging thesharp annular biting portion with the thick-walled tube includesdeforming (extruding) the tube into engagement with the recess (cavity)in the extended lip.

The invention includes a forming operation and deforms (extrudes) thetubing material into the desired shape and requires a high force toflare the tubing wall. The invention employs a sleeve wherein the wallthickness of the sleeve is relatively thick and the overall length isrelatively short to increase resistance of the sleeve to buckling. Theangle formed between the non-biting end of the sleeve and the gland is30 degrees instead of some designs employing 45 degrees from horizontalto eliminate deformation of the gland material outward from the axis ofthe flared joint. The invention uses both a mechanical bite (compressionfitting) and a flared tube end (flared fitting).

Creation of the tubing bite (compression fitting) and flared end (flaredfitting) are performed in a single operation before assembly in theconnection body. Once the compression fitting/tube flaring operation hasbeen completed then the final assembly is accomplished wherein thefitting is interconnected with a connection body.

In the creation of the fitting, the die is forced upward by a hydrauliccylinder toward the cap which is held in place with a threadedinterconnection in the housing. The die engages the sleeve on a taperwhich in turn causes the sleeve to engage the gland on a taper. As thedie continues to move upwardly the sleeve is prevented from collapsingoutwardly as the gland supports the sleeve and is held in place by thecap. Initially, and before the die begins moving upwardly, the tubingrests on the tube engaging surface of the frusto-conical portion of thedie and is slidably moveable within the sleeve and the gland against theforce of gravity and can be moved freely upwardly.

As the die is moved upwardly, the sleeve is compressed against the glandby the die. The sleeve includes an extended lip portion (overhangingnose) with a radius that prevents the hardened surface of the sleeve(i.e. coated with an XADC-Armoloy® coating from damaging the taperedsurface of the die.) XADC-Armoloy® is a trademark of ArmoloyCorporation. Use of XADC-Armoloy® creates a hardened surface whilemaintaining sufficient lubricity. Before the die begins its upwardmovement under the force of the hydraulic screw piston, a cavity existsbetween the extended lip portion of the sleeve and the tube. The taperedexterior surfaces of the sleeve are deformed to substantially match thesleeve engaging tapered inner wall surface of the die. At the same timethe biting edge of the sleeve begins to penetrate the tube surfaceforcing the inside corner of the tube against the sleeve engaging taperof the frusto-conically shaped portion of the die. A relief in thesleeve and use of the XADC-Armoloy® coating on the exterior surface ofthe sleeve (which increases the surface hardness of the sleeve) incombination ensures that the annular biting edge of the sleevepenetrates the tube.

As the die continues to move upwardly toward the cap, the taper of thesleeve engaging surface of the die forces the annular biting edge of thesleeve into the tube deforming the tube material prohibiting movement ofthe tubing upwardly and simultaneously causes the annular inside cornerof the tube end to be deformed and flared outwardly.

When the die comes into contact with the cap, material from the tube hasfilled the extended lip portion and the cavity defined by extended lipportion sleeve end and the tube end is flared out to a greater diameterthan the inside of the sleeve. The pressure is then vented from thehydraulic cylinder, and the gland, sleeve and tube are removed byunthreading the gland from the cap. The flared tube end is now ready forfinal assembly into its matching connection opening.

The flare connection assembly includes the steps of inserting the tubeand sleeve into the connection opening. Then the gland is threaded inand tightened by hand. The bottom of the connection opening has asurfaces formed in frusto-conical shape which seal on the inside of thetubing flare. The angle of the flared tube end and the frusto-conicalshape are dissimilar so the seal starts as an annular surface contact onthe frusto-conically shaped protrusion at the base of the housing of theconnection. When the gland is torqued the sleeve contacts the inwardtaper in the connection body causing the sleeve to grip the tube whichhelps the fitting resist vibration and applies a force to the deformed(raised) tubing material as the bite increases the load carried throughthe tube to the frusto-conically shaped protrusion at the base of theconnection. This deforms the material of the tube as required to achievethe metal to metal seal. The surface of the gland has a coating toreduce friction and permit the torque required for the seal to beapplied. Further torquing of the gland applies additional force to thesleeve, the tube and may increase flaring of the tube.

The structure of the compression fitting/flare fitting includes inherentsafety features which allow the person assembling the device todetermine if the sleeve does not effectively bite into the tubecorrectly. Specifically, the end of the tube will not flare correctlygiving a visual indication that the process to form the fitting wasunsuccessful. With most high pressure compression fittings it was notpossible to make visual inspection to know if the mechanical bite wasmade correctly, the only way to know if the fitting was made correctlywas to test it through use. In addition, were the bite to fail, theflared tube end of the invention would not be able to pass through thesleeve thus preventing ejection of the tubing. Tube ejection is a commonfailure mode of incorrectly assembled compression fittings and has thepotential to cause serious injury.

If the flare does not seal correctly there is a bleed hole or passagewayso pressure cannot build up around the sleeve or connection threads andcause a possible failure resulting in part ejection. This also allowsfor a visual indication that a connection is leaking.

Preferred materials of construction include: (1) the tubing is made ofcold worked 300 series stainless steel; (2) gland is made of cold worked316 stainless steel coated with baked on Molykote® (molybdenumdisulfide), a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation; (3) capis made of alloy steel; (4) the sleeve is made of through hardenedInconel 718 stainless steel (Rockwell hardness 36) (other steel alloysmay be used) with XADC-Armoloy® Coating (Rockwell hardness 93) orTDC-Armoloy® Coating (78 Rockwell hardness); (5) the die is made ofhardened steel; (6) the housing is made of aluminum; and, (7) ahydraulic cylinder. When the flared tubing engages the frusto-conicalportion of the connection body a seal is formed and the sleeve remainsdry (not in contact with the process fluid). In view thereof, the sleevemay be made of many different alloys. Further, the gland may be coatedwith other lubricants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of a tube coupling of prior art U.S.Pat. No. 2,850,202 to M. F. Bauer.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of theforward end portion of the sleeve shown in the prior art deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a modified form of the forward end portion of the sleeveillustrated in the prior art device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the wedge insert illustrating theknurled outer surface portion.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2showing principally the knurled section.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,336 toO'Sickey.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a prior art design.

FIG. 6B is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the apparatus for making the fitting.

FIG. 7A is a top view of the die.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the die taken along the lines7B-7B.

FIG. 7C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sleeve.

FIG. 7D is an exaggerated cross-sectional schematic view of a portion ofthe sleeve illustrating details of construction including the coating.

FIG. 7E is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 7D.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus for forming thefitting assembled.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 8 illustrating the die in a firstposition.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the die in a second position.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with the die in a third position.

FIG. 11A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the die in fourth positionabutting the cap.

FIG. 12A is an enlarged portion of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the die in the process ofbeing extracted away from the cap.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the fitting after assembly.

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view of the fitting of FIG. 14 taken alongthe lines 14A-14A.

FIG. 14B is a front view of the connection body.

FIG. 14C is cross-sectional view of the connection body taken along thelines 14C-14C of FIG. 14.

FIG. 14D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fitting secured tothe connection body.

FIG. 14 E is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fitting secured tothe connection body wherein the connection body includes a flow path.

FIG. 15 is a schematic of the process for making the fitting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 7 is an exploded view 700 of the apparatus for making the fittingillustrating: thick walled tubing 701, interior of the tubing 701A,exterior of the tubing 701D, width of the tubing 701B and the end oftubing 701C. Gland 702 includes exterior threads on gland 702A. Gland702 includes an inner cylindrically shaped passageway 702B through whichthick walled tubing 701 passes. Cap 703 includes exterior threads 703Awhich mate with interior threads 706A in the aluminum housing 706. Cap703 is rotated with a rod (not shown) inserted into cap 703. Cap 703further includes an annular recess into which the die 705 enters. Sleeve704 includes an inner contoured surface 704A which is generallycylindrically shaped with a relief which facilitates bending anddeforming the sleeve with pressure and force applied by the gland 702 asdescribed hereinbelow. Die 705 includes a contoured interior 705A whichincludes a sleeve engaging tapered surface 709 which interengages theexterior 704B of the sleeve 704. Contoured interior 705A includes asleeve engaging tapered inner wall 709 and a tube engaging tapered wallsurface 708 of frusto-conically shaped flaring protrusion 709C.

Still referring to FIG. 7, die 705 includes a cylindrically shapedexterior surface 705B sized to slidably engage cylindrical passageway706B of housing 706. Die 705 is somewhat analogous to a piston within apiston cylinder and movable therewith. Housing 706 includes a second setof internal threads 706C therein. Screwed hydraulic cylinder 707includes a driving portion of the cylinder which slidingly engages theinner cylindrical passageway 706B of the aluminum housing 706. Exteriorthreads 707A on the screwed hydraulic cylinder 707 interengage interiorthreads 706C of the housing. A drive mechanism, which may behydraulically or electrically driven, rotates piston 707.

Still referring to FIG. 7, plateau 709A of the frusto-conically shapedflaring protrusion 709C resides as described hereinbelow within theinner diameter of thick-walled tubing 701 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and9. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view 800 of the apparatus for forming thefitting assembled. FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion 900 of FIG. 8illustrating the die 705 in a first position before the die beginsmoving upwardly under the force of the screw type hydraulic cylinder.Gap 901 is illustrated in FIG. 9 and represents the spacing between thedie 705 and the cap 703. It will be noticed in FIG. 9 that the innerwall 701A of the thick walled tube 701 includes an inside of the endportion 713 of the tube in engagement with the tube engaging taperedwall surface 708 of frusto-conically shaped flaring cone/protrusion709C. As illustrated in FIG. 9 tube 701 sits in engagement with surface708 of the frusto-conically shaped flaring cone/protrusion 709C withoutany force other than gravity applied thereto. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustratethe flat bottom inner portion of die 709B and the plateau 709A of thefrusto-conically shaped flaring cone 709C of the die 705.

FIG. 7A is a top view 700A of the die and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectionalview 700B of the die taken along the lines 7B-7B. Upper surface 709A ofdie 705 is illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B and this surface engages cap703 when the die is driven upwardly. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9,reference numeral 710 represents the interengagement between gland 702and sleeve 704.

FIG. 15 is a schematic 1500 of the process for making the fitting incombination with a thick-walled tube 701. The process includes placing athick-walled tube 701 into engagement with the tube engaging taperedwall surface 708 of frusto-conically shaped flaring cone 709C such thatthe inner diameter 701A, 713 of the tube interengages the surface 708 ofthe frusto-conical portion of the die. The die, as previously stated, issupported by a driving cylinder 707 and is driven thereby. Next, theprocess includes sliding the sleeve 704 over the thick-walled tube 701wherein the sleeve includes an interior and an exterior. The exterior ofthe sleeve is etched and has an XADC-Armoloy® coating thereover. Thesleeve 704 includes a sharp annular biting portion engaging thethick-walled tube. The sleeve 704 includes an interior annular symmetricconcavity and the concavity of the sleeve interengages the thick-walledtube. Next, the step of securing the sleeve into forceful engagementwith the die is performed by raising or lifting the die. The step ofdriving the die into the thick-walled tube and the sleeve with thedriving piston is performed simultaneously flaring the end portion ofthe thick-walled tube. Simultaneously the step of deforming the sleeveinto engagement with the thick-walled tube 1505 is performed. The stepof driving the die into the thick-walled tube includes forcing andengaging the sharp annular biting portion with the thick-walled tubedeforming the tube into engagement with the recess in the extended lip.The driving cylinder raises the die in a continuous motion toward thecap and into engagement therewith. FIGS. 9-12 illustrate the die indifferent positions with respect to the stationary cap. FIG. 9represents the position of the die before it is moved upwardly and FIG.12 represents the position of the die when it has been moved fullyupwardly and engages the cap. FIGS. 10 and 11 represent intermediatepositions between the extremes illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 12.

FIG. 7C is an enlarged cross-sectional view 700C of the sleeve. By wayof example, nominally the sleeve 704 has an inner diameter 749 ofapproximately 0.560 inches and an outer diameter 793 of 0.750 inches.The approximate length of sleeve 704 is 0.548 inches. FIG. 7D is aschematic, exaggerated and enlarged cross-sectional schematic view 700Dof a portion of the sleeve illustrating details of constructionincluding the XADC Aramaloy coating 791. By exaggerated it is meant thatthe coating is actually only 0.0003 to 0.0006 inches thick and would notbe seen if drawn to scale, therefore, the thickness of the coating isexaggerated relative to its actual size so that it may be seen. In FIG.7D the coating 791 is drawn to be approximately 3 times actual scale.FIG. 7E is an enlargement 700E of a portion of FIG. 7D.

Reference numeral 741 defines an inner concavity in the sleeve 704. Theangle θ defines the concavity or relief 741 and measures about 3° Innerconcavity or relief 741 is symmetric as viewed in FIG. 7C. Generally theinterior or inner surface 704A of the sleeve is cylindrically shaped andincludes the relief 741 just described. Sleeve 704 is includes anXADC-Armoloy® coating 791 thereover which includes syntheticnanodiamonds particles having a Rockwell Hardness of 98. Sleeve 704 ischemically etched using an acid. The extended lip portion 790 of thesleeve is also chemically etched as best illustrated in FIG. 7E. FIG. 7Eis an enlargement 700E of a portion of FIG. 7D. Reference numeral 796Aillustrates a jagged line representative of the chemically etchedcoating on the exterior surface of the sleeve. Coating 791 generallyfollows the contour of the sleeve forming an outer surface which issmooth before it is chemically etched forming a rough surface 796A. Thewall thickness of the sleeve is nominally 0.095 inches as illustrated inFIG. 7C. The exterior 704B of the sleeve is tapered (first taper 743,second taper 742) as illustrated by angles β (1.787°) and Δ (12°+/−1°).Radially curved portion 745 of the sleeve 704 initially engages the diewhen the sleeve is positioned as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (i.e, before die705 applies upward force on the sleeve and tube). Reference numeral 741Arepresents the gap between the wall/concavity 741 of the sleeve and thetube 704. Upper beveled edge portion 794 of the sleeve 704 makes a 30°angle γ with respect to the horizontal and interengages acorrespondingly angled surface 702C of the gland 702. Surface 702C ofthe cold worked 316 stainless steel gland is coated with baked onMolykote (molybdenum disulfide) so as to facilitate rotation of thegland with respect to the sleeve 704 when the compression fitting/flarefitting of the instant invention is used with the connection body.

Referring to FIGS. 7C and 7D, the exterior end portion 744, the end ofthe sleeve 746, edge of the sleeve 747 and the annular sharp biting edge749A are illustrated. The inner concavity 780 is formed by first 748 andsecond 748A legs which form an angle of less than 90°. Referring toFIGS. 9-13, reference numeral 780A denotes a space which isprogressively filled with metal from the tube as the annular sharpbiting edge 749A proceeds deeper into the wall of the tube as the die705 is forced upwardly.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view 800 of the apparatus which forms thecompression fitting/flare fitting. FIG. 8 illustrates the elements ofFIG. 7 in the assembled state or condition. Gap 901 between the die andthe cap 703 is illustrated and represents the spacing therebetweenbefore the die is urged toward the cap. Gland 702 is illustrated in FIG.8 as being fully threaded within cap 703 and in engagement with sleeve704. Gland 702 may be differently sized, for instance, it may have adifferent length or diameter and it may not bottom out on the cap 703.Many examples of the arrangement of the elements illustrated in FIG. 8are specifically envisioned. The arrow in FIG. 8 is meant to convey thatthe piston 707 may be driven in the upward or downward direction.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion 900 of FIG. 8 illustrating the die 705 ina first position and before the die begins moving upwardly. FIG. 9A isan enlarged portion 900A of FIG. 9. FIGS. 8, 9 and 9A represent thestate of the die, tube and sleeve before upward force is applied by thedie/hydraulic piston/cylinder. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the uppersurface 709S of the die and a gap 901 is illustrated between the uppersurface 709S of the die 705 and the cap 703. FIG. 9A illustrates thelegs 748, 748A which together with the thick-walled tube 701 define thecavity 780. Space 780A represents an annular volume which is filled withmetal formed by the compression fitting and tube flaring operation. Asillustrated in FIG. 9A, initially the annular sharp biting edge 749A isresting in engagement with the outer surface 701D of the tubing and hasnot yet been forced into cutting and extruding engagement with the tube.The radially curved portion 745 of the exterior surface of the sleeve isillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 9A engaging the sleeve engaging surface 709of the die 705. The die 705 illustrated in FIG. 9 is spaced apart fromthe cap 703 as represented by reference numeral 901.

FIG. 10 is a view 1000 similar to FIG. 9 with the die 705 in a secondposition. The second position is indicated by gap 1001 which is smallerthan the gap 901 revealing that the die 705 has progressed upwardly.FIG. 10 illustrates end 701C of the tube beginning to flare. FIG. 10A isan enlarged portion 1000A of FIG. 10 illustrating the annular sharpbiting edge 749A engaging the tube 701 forming an annular cut 712beginning to form in the exterior surface 701D of the thick-walledtubing and which extrudes metal of the tube into cavity 780 occupyingspace 780A. As the die 705 is moved upwardly, the sleeve 704 iscompressed by the die as the sleeve engaging surface 709 is brought intoengagement with the second tapered surface 742 of the exterior of thesleeve. FIGS. 10 and 10A illustrate that the gap 741A illustrated inFIG. 9A is smaller in FIG. 10A as the relief defined by referencenumeral 741 is compressed. The sleeve includes an extended lip portion790 (overhanging nose) with a radius 745 that prevents the hardenedsurface 701D of the sleeve (i.e. the XADC-Armoloy® coating) fromdamaging the tapered surface 709 of the die 705. Before the die 705begins its upward movement under the force of the hydraulic screw piston707, a cavity 780 exists between the extended lip portion 790 of thesleeve 704 and the tube 701. The first and second tapered exteriorsurfaces 743, 742 of the sleeve are deformed to substantially match thesleeve engaging tapered inner wall 708 of the die 705. Simultaneouslytherewith the annular biting edge 749A of the sleeve 704 begins topenetrate the tube surface 701D and begins forcing the annular insidecorner 713 of the tube 701 against the respective tube engaging tapersurface 708 of the frusto-conically shaped protrusion/cone 709C of thedie 705. The relief 741 in sleeve 704 in combination with a hardenedannular biting edge 749A of the sleeve 704 (for example, the sleeve withXADC-Armoloy® coating which increases the surface hardness) allowspenetration of the tube. As the die 705 continues to move upwardlytoward the cap 703, the sleeve engaging tapered inner wall 709 of thedie forces the annular biting edge 749A of the sleeve deeper into thetube 701 deforming (extruding) the tube material and simultaneouslycauses the annular inside corner 713 of the tube end to be deformed andflare outwardly. The relief angle θ in combination with the angle of leg748 with respect to horizontal as illustrated in FIG. 7C in combinationwith the XADC-Armoloy® coating provides the ability to cut and extrudethe metal of the tube so as to occupy space 780A.

FIG. 11 is a view 1100 similar to FIG. 10 with the die in a thirdposition as indicated by the gap 1101 which is smaller than gap 1001illustrated in FIG. 10. Gap 1001 reveals that die 705 has progressedupwardly further than in FIGS. 10 and 10A. FIG. 11A is an enlargedportion 1100 of FIG. 11 and illustrates the annular sharp biting edge749A engaging tube 701 forming a yet deeper annular cut 712A in theexterior surface 701D of the thick-walled tubing 701 as compared to theannular cut 712 of FIGS. 10 and 10A. FIG. 11 illustrates the extrusionof metal from the tube 701 into cavity 780 occupying space 780A. As thedie 705 is moved upwardly, sleeve 704 is compressed by the die 705 andthe inner surface 701A of the tubing deforms as indicated by an inwardbulge 795 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 11A. FIGS. 11 and 11A illustrate thatthe gap 741A between the exterior tube wall 701D and the concavity 741of the sleeve illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 10A is nonexistent as therelief/concavity 741 was further compressed and the interior surface704A of the sleeve 704 and the exterior surface of the thick-walled tube701D engage as indicated by reference numeral 740.

FIG. 12 is a view 1200 similar to FIG. 11 with the die 705 in fourth andfinal position abutting and engaging the cap 703. FIG. 12A is anenlarged portion 1200A of FIG. 12. When the die 705 engages cap 703,metal from the tube has been extruded into the cavity 780 and space 780Afilling same. Cavity 780 is defined by extended lip portion 790 of thesleeve 704 and the tube 701D. Simultaneously with the extrusion of tubemetal to fill concavity 780A as viewed in FIG. 11, tube end 701C isflared out to a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the sleeve704.

Pressure is then vented from the hydraulic cylinder and then the gland702, sleeve 704 and tube 701 are removed by unthreading the gland fromthe cap 703. FIG. 13 is a view 1300 similar to FIG. 12 with the die inthe process of being extracted away from the cap as illustrated by gap1301. As the hydraulic cylinder is vented, the die 705 is withdrawn andthe sleeve 704 is separated from the sleeve engaging surface 702C of thegland 702 as illustrated in FIG. 13.

The fitting assembly and flared tube end is now ready for final assemblyinto its matching connection body as illustrated in FIGS. 14, 14A, 14B,14C and 14D. FIG. 14 is a front view 1400 of the fitting after it hasbeen completed by the process and apparatus of FIGS. 8-15. FIG. 14A is across-sectional view 1400A of the fitting of FIG. 14 taken along thelines 14A-14A and illustrates the gland 702 surrounding the tube 701with the gland spaced apart from the sleeve 704 for clarity. The personassembling the device can visually inspect the fitting to determine ifthe sleeve has not engaged the tube correctly by examining the flaredend. Since the flaring of the tube end and the compression fitting ofthe sleeve are integrally related and occur simultaneously, it is notpossible to achieve the proper flaring of the tube end if thecompression fitting is not formed properly. With most high pressurecompression fittings it is not possible to make visual inspections todetermine if the mechanical bite was made correctly. The only way todetermine if those fittings were made correctly was to test them. In theinstant invention, however, were the compressive bite of the sleeve tofail through a fracture of the extruded metal, the flared tube end ofthe invention would not pass through the sleeve thus preventing ejectionof the tubing. Tube ejection is a common failure mode of incorrectlymade compression fittings and has the potential to cause serious injury.

FIG. 14B is a front view 1400B of the connection body 1401. FIG. 14C iscross-sectional view 1400C of the connection body taken along the lines14C-14C of FIG. 14 illustrating internal threads 1402 for mating withexternal threads 702A of the gland, sleeve engaging surface 1403, andfrusto-conical surface of the mating body 1404. The geometry of theengaging surfaces 1403 and 1404 of the connection body may be identicalto those of die 705 illustrated in FIGS. 8-13. A bleed port 1405 inconnection body 1401 may be used to determine leaks. FIG. 14D is anenlarged cross-sectional view 1400D of the compression fitting/flaredtube end combination secured to the connection body 1401 withinterengagement of the threads 702A/1402. Since the flared end 701C ofthe tube has an outside diameter 1408 larger than the inner diameter1407 of the sleeve as illustrated in FIG. 14D, the tube may not beextracted therefrom. Reference numeral 1406 illustrates the counterboreor flow path of the frusto-conically shaped structure 1409 in theconnection body.

If the flare end of the tube does not seal correctly there is a bleedport or passageway 1405 which prevents pressure build up around thesleeve or connection threads and prevents a possible failure resultingin part ejection. Bleed port or passageway 1405 allows for a visualindication that a connection is leaking Since the sleeve is not normallya wetted part it may be manufactured from materials other than stainlesssteel.

Preferred materials of construction include: (1) the tubing is made ofcold worked 300 series stainless steel; (2) gland is made of cold worked316 stainless steel coated with baked on Molykote (molybdenumdisulfide); (3) cap is made of alloy steel; (4) the sleeve is made ofthrough hardened Inconel 718 stainless steel with XADC-Armoloy® Coating;(5) the die is made of hardened steel; (6) the housing is made ofaluminum; (7) a hydraulic cylinder; and, (8) connection bodies are madeof cold worked 316 stainless steel.

FIG. 14 E is an enlarged cross-sectional view 1400E of the fittingsecured to the connection body wherein the connection body includes aflow path 1406.

The invention as described herein is for use with the cold-worked 15,000psi tubing. At this time use for 20,000 psi or even higher isenvisioned. Tubing rated at 15,000 psi is known as thick-walled tubingand has the following dimensions.

15,000 psi Tubing (Units in Inches, Nominal)

Outside Inside Diameter Diameter Wall thickness ¼″ 0.162″ 0.043″ ⅜″0.250″ 0.060″ 9/16″ 0.359″ 0.099″ ¾″ 0.515″ 0.115″ 1″ 0.687″ 0.154″

Cold-worked tubing rated at 20,000 psi is also known as thick-walledtubing and has the following dimensions.

20,000 psi Tubing (Units in Inches, Nominal)

Outside Inside Diameter Diameter Wall thickness ¼″ 0.109″ .070″ ⅜″0.203″ .084″ 9/16″ 0.312″ .122″ ¾″ 0.437″ .154″ 1″ 0.563″ .216″

For the 9/16″ outside diameter, 15,000 psi rated tubing, approximately28,000 lbs of force is applied in deforming the sleeve 704 and flaringthe tubing. At this load it has been determined that the sleeve 704 doesnot buckle under the influence of the hydraulic cylinder raising the dieup to and against the cap.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100—cross-sectional view of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,303-   10—tube-   11—connection body-   12—coupling nut-   13—contractible sleeve-   14—male threads-   15—female threads-   16—cam surface-   17—annular cam surface-   18—socket-   19—terminating end surface-   20—wedge insert-   21—abutting end surface-   22—annular wedge wall-   23—knurled portion-   24—rounded nose-   25—continuous annular body-   26—segmental fingers-   27—slots-   28—forward contractible end portion-   29—end portion-   30—cam surface-   31—bore-   32—rib-   33—triangular apex meeting at a point-   34—recess wall-   35—laterally extending circumferential wall-   37—shell-   38—cam shoulder-   39—cam shoulder-   40—forward biting edge or shoulder-   41—shell-   42—bore-   45—conical opening-   46—first end portion-   47—region-   48—triangular space-   49—first end region-   50—second end region-   51—intermediate portion of the annular cam surface-   200—enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of prior art U.S.    Pat. No. 2,850,303-   300—modified form of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,303-   400—fragmentary side view of the wedge insert-   500—fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of 200-   600—cross-sectional view of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,336-   600A—cross-sectional view of prior art device-   600B—enlargement of a portion of the cross-sectional view of prior    art device-   610—body-   611—bore-   612—bore-   613—transverse shoulder-   615—body cam surface-   617—tube-   618—outer portion-   620—transverse shoulder-   622—sleeve-   624—radially contractible portion-   625—enlarged portion-   638—coupling nut-   639—threaded interconnection between body 610 and nut 638-   642—tapered shoulder-   650—square die-   651—housing-   652—gland-   653—threads between housing and gland-   654—sleeve-   655—tubing-   656—annular hook-shaped peel-   657—annular tip of hook-shaped peel-   658—annular biting edge of sleeve-   659—interengagement of sleeve 654 and tubing 655-   660—sleeve extension-   661—gap between the sleeve extension 660, tube 655 and annular    hook-shaped peel-   700—exploded assembly view of piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing-   700A—open, upper end view of the die-   700B—cross-sectional view of the die taken along the lines 7B-7B-   700C—cross-sectional view of an enlarged sleeve-   700D—exaggerated cross-sectional view illustrating the coating-   700E—enlargement of a portion of FIG. 7D-   701—thick walled tubing-   701A—inner tubing-   701B—width of the tubing-   701C—end of tubing-   701D—outer surface of the tubing-   702—gland-   702A—exteriors threads on gland-   702B—inner diameter-   702C—sleeve engaging surface-   703—cap-   703A—exterior threads-   703B—threads in the cap-   703C—aperture enabling cap to be threaded into housing 706-   704—sleeve-   704A—inner contoured surface of the sleeve-   704B—coated exterior of sleeve-   705—die-   705A—interior of die-   705B—exterior of die-   706—aluminum housing-   706A—interior threads in the housing-   706B—internal inner diameter of aluminum housing-   706C—second set of internal threads in housing-   707—screwed hydraulic cylinder-   707A—exterior threads on the screwed hydraulic cylinder-   707B—driving portion of cylinder slidingly guided by inner surface    706B of aluminum housing-   708—tube engaging tapered wall surface of frusto-conically portion    of flaring cone 709C-   709—sleeve engaging tapered inner wall of die 705-   709A—plateau of the cone-   709B—flat bottom inner portion of die-   709C—frusto-conically shaped flaring cone 708 of 709C.-   709S—upper surface of die 705-   710—interengagement between gland and sleeve-   712—annular cut in the thick-walled tubing-   712A—annular cut in the thick-walled tubing-   713—inside of the end portion of the tube-   713A—interengagement of the inner portion of the tube and the    frusto-conical portion of the flaring cone-   715—deformation the annular lip of the tube-   715A—increased deformation of the annular lip of the tube-   715B—maximum deformation of the annular lip of the tube-   716—flared portion of the tube-   740—interengagement of the sleeve and the thick-walled tube-   741—inner concavity in sleeve 704-   741A—gap between the sleeve and the tube-   742—tapered outer surface of sleeve 704-   743—tapered exterior surface-   744—exterior end portion of the sleeve-   745—radially curved portion of the sleeve-   746—end portion of the sleeve-   747—edge-   748—first leg-   748A—second leg-   749—inner diameter of the sleeve-   749A—annular sharp biting edge-   780—inner concavity of gripping portion-   780A—space-   790—extended lip portion-   791—coated outer surface of sleeve-   793—outer diameter of the sleeve-   794—upper beveled edge portion of sleeve-   795—inward bulge of inner surface 701A-   796A—etched outer surface of coating 791-   800—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   900—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   900A—enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 9-   901—gap between cap and piston-   1000—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   1000A—enlarged portion of FIG. 10-   1001—reduced gap between cap and piston-   1100—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   1100A—enlarged portion of FIG. 11-   1101A—gap during flaring and fitting process-   1200—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   1200A—enlarged portion of FIG. 12-   1201—zero gap-   1300—cross-sectional view of the piston, die, cap, sleeve, gland and    tubing assembled together-   1301—gap as the hydraulic cylinder is being withdrawn-   1400—front view of the fitting-   1400A—cross-sectional view of the fitting-   1400B—front view of the housing-   1400C—cross-sectional view of the fitting taken along the lines    14C-14C-   1400D—cross-sectional view of the fitting engaged with the housing-   1401—mating body-   1402—threaded interconnection with the fitting-   1403—sleeve engaging surface-   1404—frusto-conical surface of the mating body-   1405—bleed port to determine leaks-   1406—counterbore in frusto-conically shaped structure-   1407—inner diameter of the sleeve after compression-   1408—outside diameter of the tube after flaring-   1409—frusto-conically shaped structure 1409 of the connection body-   1410—flow path/passageway in the connection body-   1500—schematic of the process for making the tube fitting in    combination with a thick-walled tube-   1501—placing a thick-walled tube into engagement with the    frusto-conical portion of a die such that the inner diameter of the    tube interengages the conical portion of the frusto-conical portion    of the die, the die supported by a driving piston-   1502—sliding a sleeve over the tube, the sleeve includes an interior    and an exterior, the exterior of the sleeve being etched and having    a coating thereover, the sleeve includes a sharp annular biting    portion engaging the thick-walled tube, the sleeve includes an    interior annular symmetric concavity, the concavity of the sleeve    interengaging the thick-walled tube-   1503—securing the sleeve into forceful engagement with the die-   1504—driving the die into the thick-walled tube and the sleeve with    the driving piston; flaring the end portion of the thick-walled tube-   1505—deforming the sleeve into engagement with the thick-walled    tube.-   1506—the step of driving the die into the thick-walled tube includes    forcing and engaging the sharp annular biting portion with the    thick-walled tube deforming the tube into engagement with the recess    in the extended lip-   β—angle defining first taper-   Δ—angle defining the beveled exterior end portion of the sleeve-   θ—angle defining concavity or relief-   γ—upper beveled edge portion of sleeve

The invention has been set forth by way of example only. Those skilledin the art will readily recognize that changes may be made to theinvention without departing from the spirit and the scope of the claimsas set forth hereinbelow.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A process for making a tube fitting for use incombination with a thick-walled tube comprising the steps of: placing anend portion of a thick-walled tube into engagement with a tube engagingsurface of a frusto-conical portion of a die such that the innerdiameter of said tube interengages said tube engaging surface of saidfrusto-conical portion of said die, said die supported by a drivingpiston; sliding a sleeve over said tube, said sleeve includes aninterior and an exterior, said exterior of said sleeve being having acoating thereover, said sleeve includes a sharp annular biting portionengaging said thick-walled tube, said sleeve includes an interiorconcavity, said concavity of said sleeve interengaging said thick-walledtube after deformation of said tube and said sleeve; securing saidsleeve into forceful engagement with said die; driving said die intosaid thick-walled tube and said sleeve with said driving piston; flaringsaid end portion of said thick-walled tube; and, deforming said sleeveinto engagement with said thick-walled tube.
 20. A process for making atube fitting for use in combination with a thick-walled tube as claimedin claim 19 wherein said coating on said sleeve is an XADC-Armoloy®coating.
 21. A process for making a tube fitting for use in combinationwith a thick-walled tube as claimed in claim 19 wherein said slidingsleeve has a longitudinal axis, said extended lip portion includes arecess, said recess includes first and second legs, and said first legbeing parallel to said longitudinal axis and said second leg beingsubstantially transverse to said first leg, and said step of drivingsaid die into said thick-walled tube includes forcing and engaging saidsharp annular biting portion with said thick-walled tube deforming saidtube into engagement with said recess in said extended lip.
 22. Aprocess for making a tube fitting for use in combination with athick-walled tube as claimed in claim 19 wherein said coating on saidexterior of said sleeve is etched.
 23. (canceled)